Casing mechanism.



J. S. STEWART.

CASING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION nun AUG. 10, 1909.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

- BY Y6 ATTORN UNIT $ATES PATENT FFTGE.

JOHN S. STEWART, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

CASING MECHANISM.

Application filed August 10, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN S. S'rnwan'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Houston, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Innn'ovements in Casing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and nse'lul improv-ements in casing mechanism.

The object of the invention is to provide a pipe joint or casing which may be used in the process of drilling, to case o'tt any undesirable flow which may be encountered. In drilling for oil particularly, an i\.rtesian flow of water is often encountered, which now necessitates the lowering of easing pipe from the surface of the ground downward.

and bushing the saint: until the [low cut oti'. This casing must then be left in place and the bore made samller therebelow, thus requiring the use of a great amount of ex pensive casing as well as obstructing the progress of the work by 1".tlSO[l ot the less ened bore.

My improved casing is designed to be made in coi'nparatively short joints and when an objectionable flow is encountered the joint is lowered until it is opposite said low and then expanded by means hereinafter described until it shuts ott' the [low and at the same time leaves the bore, its original size. The drilling process may then be continued without obstruction and the bore below said casing joint may be the same size as it is thereabove.

My invention also comprehends a mechanism whereby said pipe joint may be expanded, said mechanism being operative from the ground surface.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, my invention has particular relation to certain features of construction and operation an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view, in elevation of the ex terior portion of a casing section showing a sectional view of the surroumling gunny sacking. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a com plete section of the casing expanded with the surrounding sacking removed. Fig. 3. is an enlarged sectional view of one end of the casing showing the engaging flange. Fig. 4. is an end elevation of the view shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an end View of the eas- Speeification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

Serial No. 512,250.

ing nncxpanded. Fig. (3 is an end view of the device expanded. Fig. 7. is a plan view of the expanding mechanism and Fig. 8. shows a section of the operative rod ot said mechanism.

l telierring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals ot reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral 1 refers to the internal surtace of the well bore and '2 refers to the body oil the casing joint.

The numeral 3 designates circular projecting flanges carried by the ends of the easing. \Vhen the casing is being lowered it is contracted sulliciently to allow these tlanges to freely enter the bore as shown in Fig. l, but when the same is expanded as shown in Fig. 2, the flanges are buried in the walls of the bore and thus any stream encountered intermediate the ends ot said joint, is etl'urtually cut off.

Tn practice, the joints are composed of two longitudinal pipe sections 4- and as shown in Figs. 5 and (3. ()no of these sections 'lhas longitmlinal internal rack teeth (3 at either edge designed to engage with similar external rack teeth 7 *arri-ed by the edges of section The casing joint is con tracted, as shown in Fig. 5 when being lowered into the well, section 5 resting within section 4-. The casing is then expanded, as will be presently described, and the elasticity of section 5 causes its rack teeth to engage with the correspomling teeth of section t. and the joint thus held in its expanded position.

The expanding mechanism is shown in Fig. 7 and comprises two similar oppositely disposed arcuate members 8 and 9 carrying respectively, inwardly extending arms 10 and 11. These arms carrying at their "free ends laterally extending sleeves 12 and 13, respectively, through each of which the other arm slides, as shown. The inner sides of the arms are provided with rack teeth designed to engage with rack teeth 14 carried by the operative rod 15. This rod extends to the surface where it may manually or mechanically be operated and the expanding mechanism thus enlarged or contracted.

The sections 4: and 5 each carry arcuate recesses, as 16. near one end. designed for the purpose of receiving the arcnate members S and 9. The expanding mechanism may thus be used to lower the casing joint to the desired place, as well as to raise the same, and to expand said joint when the desired point is reached.

In order to insure against any possible leakage through the oints, between sections at and 5, the entire casing joint may be surrounded by gunny sacking, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and designated by the numeral 17. It is, of course, to be observed that any suitable material may be used for surrounding the casing joint in the manner just described, but it is, preferably, made of hemp or some material which will swell or expand when it becomes wet and thus serve as a bushing between the casing joint and the wall of the well bore, and thus assist in shutting off any undesirable flow.

What I claim is l. A casing mechanism composed of two semicylindrical pipe sections, the free edges of one of which are embraced by the free edges of the other; a plurality of rack teeth carried by the said free edges of the former and upon the outer surface thereof, and also a plurality of rack teeth carried by the free edges of the latter and upon the internal surface thereof; said teeth extending longitudinally the full length of the sections, and being so disposed that as the mechanism is expanded the respective rack teeth will engage with each other and hold said mechanism in its expanded position.

2. A casing mechanism composed of two semicylindrical pipe sections, the free edges of one of which are embraced by the free edges of the other; a plurality of rack teeth carried by the said free edges of the former and upon the outer surface thereof, and also a plurality of rack teeth carried by the free edges of the latter and upon the internal surface thereof; said teeth extending longitudinally the full length of the sections, and being so disposed that as'the mechanism is expanded the respective rack teeth will engage with each other and hold said mechanism in its expanded position; annular flanges carried upon the external surface of the extremities of said sections for engaging with the internal surface of a well bore said sections being also provided with arcuate depressions at their extremities in the internal walls thereof for engaging with a device for lowering or raising the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S. STEWART.

Witnesses:

CHAs. R. MUNGER, ERNEST O. GUY. 

